Electric applicator



March 24, 1953 J. J. DOBES 2,632,447

ELECTRIC APPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 J00 INVENTOR.

March 24, 1953 J. J. DOBES 2,632,447

ELECTRIC APPLICATOR Filed May 12, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 QINVENTOR. J00 J05 Jig pfi ffloes v, gs.

Patented Mar. 24 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,632,447 ELECTRIC APPLICATOR J oseph J. Dobes, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Cowan Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 12, 1948, Serial No. 26,658 6 Claims. (01. 128-404) This invention relates to an electric applicator, and more particularly to means for applying electric vibrations to the human body to relieve congestion therein.

Objects of this invention are to provide an' electric applicator capable of energization from the ordinary 110 volt supply line; to provide an electric applicator of relatively simple and inexpensive construction; to provide an electric applicator capable of applying oscillations of complex form or multiple frequency and of selective intensities; to provide an electric applicator used for supplying electric vibrations to a multiplicity of congested areas of a single patient undergoing treatment or treat a multiplicity of patients at one time; to provide in an electric applicator a relatively simple but more efficient applicator pad.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in exploded perspective of an electric applicator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2'is an enlarged view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken substantially along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of an applicator pad-forming part of the present-invention;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a' schematic diagram of the circuit of the electric applicator of Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the elements that make up the applicator pad;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the applicator pad showing the electrical connection thereto; and i Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 showing the vibrator coil case is also provided with a shorter top wall I6 extending from the back wall 6 to the inclined front edges [8 of the upper sections of the side walls 8 and 10. Side rails 26 are secured to the I inner surfaces of the side walls 6 and IE! in spaced plied to the pair of jacks.

relation to the bottom I2 of the carrying case forming a storage compartment 22 and a support for the chassis 24 on which the various electrical instrumentalities are mounted. The chassis 24 comprises a bottom plate 26 slidably mounted on side rails 20, a vertical front panel 28 and an inclined front instrument panel 30. The chassis also comprises short side walls 32 supporting the instrument panel 30.

A pair of transformers 34 and 36 of the voltage step-down type and a pair of electromagnetic vibrators 38 and 46 include a relatively low frequency vibrator 42 and a relatively high frequency vibrator 44 carrying cooperating vibrator contacts 46 and 48. The vibrators 42 and 44, and hence the contacts 46 and 48 carried thereby, are connected in the usual manner in thecircuit of the primary windings, not shown, 'of the electromagnetic vibrators 38 and 40.

Rheostats 5B and 52 are mounted on the inner wall of the instrument panel 30 with their adjusting shafts extending through the panel and having on their outer ends operating k'nobs 54, 56 cooperating with intensity indicating dials 58 and 66. Two pairs of applicator jacks 62-64, 66-68, are mounted on the instrument panel, each pair being juxtaposed to the control knob of the rheostat which controls the current sup- Control switches Hi and 12 are mounted on the instrument panel, each controlling the connection of the unit supplying vibratory currents to the rheostat and jacks to which the switch is juxtaposed on the instrument panel. Signal indicator lamps M and 16 are also mounted on the instrument panel respectively in juxtaposition to the control switch, closure of which energizes the indicator lamp to indicate the energized condition of the jacks with which the lampis associated.

The jacks 62 to 68 receive connector plugs 18 to 84 of electric applicator cords 36 to 92, each cord carrying at its outer end a terminal eyelet 94 riveted to the socket member or part 96 of a two part snap fastener, the other pin portion or part'98 of each snap fastener being secured to one of the applicator pads I06 to I06. j

The applicator pads are all of the same construction and a description of the applicator pad will be understood to apply also to the other applicator pads. As'shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

" the applicator pad m6 comprises a quilted tex tile pad I68 of absorbent material, preferably cotton, covered on its inner surface with a textile mesh H6 such as cheese cloth, the netting H0 being covered by an electrically conductive in water to moisten or wet the same. then be reattached to the'cords and the plugs f the cords inserted in the appropriate iacks netting I I 2, preferably a copper netting, to which the pin portion or part 98 of the snap fastener is secured. The pin portion 98 of the snap fastener passes through an opening in a textile cover I I4 secured to the cotton padding by binding II6 stitched to the absorbent pad I08 and the textile cover II4. It will be evident that the two parts 96 and 98 of the snap fastener serve detachably to connect the electrically conductive r'ie't'ting of the "applicator pad to the applicator'cord 86.

The applicator pads, cords and plugs attached to the cords are stored when not in use in the storage chamber 22 beneath the supporting bars 20 for the instrument chassis. The cover of the case is closed for storage or carrying .purposes by a cover H8 having a front wall I28, side flanges I22 and I24 and a topportion I26, the side flanges H22 and I24 being of increasing height or depth ad ace'iit the top portion I26 of the cover to mate with the inclinededges l8 of the side walls of the companion part of the carrying -''case. The cover I I8 is formed at its opposite lower edges with short angle brackets 1-28 to interfit with the upstanding flange I4 so astolocate the cover on the other part of the carrying case, the cover being secured by the usual luggage latch, of which the part I38 is secured to the cover and companion part I 32 issecured to the top H; of the other part of the a carrying case.

Thecircuit of the applicator is shown in Fig. 6, the supply line L l being connected in com- "mon by wires I34 and I 36 to one terminal of e'ach of the switches 1!) and 12, the other terminals of these switches being connected to the signal indicator lamps 74 and I8 and through wires I38 and M8 to one end of each of the primary windings of the transformers 34 and 6. The other'side of the lamps 14 and it are connected in common by wires I42 and I44 to the-othen-supply line L'2 to which the other *endsof the primary windings of the transformers 34 and 35 are also connected, by wires I 48 and M8. The secondary windings of the transformers-34 and 36 are'connected on one side to the wipers of "the rheostats 54 and 58 and on the other sideto the input terminals S50 and 'I 52 respectively of the-electromagnetic vibrators The vibrators Mare connected to The wires 86, 88, 90 and 92fromthe applicatorpads are connected to the common input' an'd output terminals I58 and I60.

in use the absorbent applicator pads are moistened or wetted, the -moisture being absorbed by the absorbent, quilted pads I88. The ap- .plicator pads may be removed from their supply cords by the release of the two part snap fasteners in orderto sprinkle or immerse the pads They may on the instrument panel. The control 'switch'or control-switches are then closed to energize the signal lamp or lamps and the transformer or .straiisformers, the rheostat knob being set to minimum intensity position. The applicatorpads are then placed in appropriate locations with respect to the area of congestion, one pad being preferably placed in the area of the congestion, pain or muscular stifiness while the other pad is appropriately placed in spaced relation thereto along the nervous or muscular system feeding blood to the congested area, conveying the pain to the nerve centers or controlling the affected muscles. In some instances it may be desirable to use three :or more pads placed in different locations or to effectively cover the circulating nervous or muscular system related to the affected area. The control knob or knobs of the rheostats are then adjusted gradually to increase the-intensity to the desired value, sufiicient to reach the aflected area.

The relatively low frequency vibrator 42 has a predetermined, fixed relatively low natural frequency of oscillation. The relatively high frequency vibrator 44 has a fixed higher natural period of oscillation. The primary I54 or I56 is :completed only when the .two vibrating contacts contact one another. As the Irequencies of vibration are different-and are not synchronized, the contactscontact one .another more or less at random, and the resulting electrical output of the transformers is of a complex form or multiple frequency. It is .to be understood that in their normal condition Whennot oscillating that the contacts contact one another .so that the primary circuit canbe closed when the applicator-switchis .flrst closed. The multiple frequency resulting from .applicants vibrator is believed to have a more beneficial efiect than a constantly recurring symmetrical wave shape.

1 Applicant hasiound that an electric applicator constructed in accordance with his present invention restores the normalflowofbloodto congested-areas thereby relieving the congestion and the painassociated with the-congestion .and the stiffness of -muscles w caused by .a decrease in the normal rate of circulation of the blood through the body. Cases :of arthritis which have not responded to-medical treatment have yielded to application of the multi-frequency electric currents provided by theapplicatorofthis invention.

It will be apparentfrom the foregoing description that applicant has providedan electric applicator capableof'energizationfrom the ordinary volt supply. line ;an electric applicator of relatively .simple and inexpensive construction; an electricv applicator capable of applying vibrations of multiple frequency. and 'ofselective intensities; an electric applicator for supplyingelectric vibrations to a multiplicityof congested areas of a single patient undergoingtreatment, or fortreating a multiplicity ofpatients at onetime, and a relatively simple but more eflicient applicator pad in an electric applicator.

It will be obvious that changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing'from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right ishereby reserved to make-all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

'l.- In an electric applicator, a pairof applicator pads, apluralityiof electric vibrators having different frerniencies of operation, means connecting said vibrator-in series and tosai pads,

and current intensity control means in circuit with said vibrator andsaid applicator pads.

2. In an electric applicator, body applicator means, a transformer having a. primary circuit adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current and a secondary circuit, a series connected double frequency electric vibrator in said secondary circuit and connected to said body applicator means.

3. In an electric applicator, body applicator means, a pair of non-synchronous electric vibrators each having an input circuit and an output circuit, each of the vibrators including a plurality of series connected vibrating contacts of difierent natural frequencies, the input circuit being adapted to be connected to a source of a1- ternating current, a pair of rheostats in the output circuits and. means connecting said body applicator means in said output circuits.

4. In an electric applicator, body applicator means, a carrying case having upper and lower chambers, one of said chambers being a storage chamber for receiving said body applicator means, a multi-frequency electric vibrator supply unit mounted in the other of said chambers and having connector means for connection to the body applicator means, each of the multi-frequency electric vibrator supply units including a pair of series connected vibrating contacts having different natural frequencies.

5. In an electric applicator, a pair of body applicator electrodes, a plurality of electric vibrators having difierent frequencies of operation, and

means connecting said vibrators in series with one another and with said body applicator electrodes.

6. In an electric applicator, body applicator electrode means, an electric vibrator having a primary, a secondary, and a pair of vibrating contacts, the vibrating contacts having different natural frequencies of vibration, means connecting said secondary to said body applicator electrode means, and means connecting said primary and said pair of vibrating contacts in series, said last named means being adapted for cooperation with a source of electrical supply for energizing said primary.

JOSEPH J. DOBES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 352,084 Drescher Nov. 2, 1886 592,844 Waite Nov. 2, 1897 651,777 Brown June 12, 1900 1,212,541 Morse Jan. 16, 1917 1,583,087 Morse May 4, 1926 1,598,862 Hangl Sept. 7, 1926 2,213,403 Miller Sept. 3, 1940 

